Hand grips for nursing bottles

ABSTRACT

Hand grips to be placed on nursing bottles to assist an infant in holding its own bottle while nursing, and also providing a supporting structure which prevents the bottle from rolling out of reach. The device consists essentially of a ring or band which may be slid over the bottle and removably attached thereto. The band may either be a complete circular ring providing a friction fit or having means for tightening the band onto the bottle, a split ring relying on the spring compression of the band to secure itself to the bottle or partial ring segments may be used with suitable hooks or the like for attachment. The band has at least two laterally projecting legs which are substantially straight, oriented radially with respect to the band and positioned at an obtuse angle.

United States Patent [1 1 Hechinger Nov. 20, 1973 HAND GRIPS FOR NURSINGBOTTLES [76] Inventor: Al Hechinger, 12676 W.

Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90066 [22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1972[21] Appl. No.: 241,695

2,733,883 2/1956 Gourley 248/102 2,789,002 4/1957 Nicholas 248/ 1023,058,708 10/1962 Murray et al.... 248/102 3,117,759 1/1964 Herer248/102 3,222,020 12/1965 Rea 248/106 3,627,244 12/1971 Nicholas 224/5 WPrimary Examiner-Marion Parsons, Jr.

Att0rneyCharles G. Lyon et al.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT Hand grips to be placed on nursing bottles to assist aninfant in holding its own bottle while nursing, and also providing asupporting structure which prevents the bottle from rolling out ofreach. The device consists essentially of a ring or band which may beslid over the bottle and removably attached thereto. The band may eitherbe a complete circular ring providing a friction fit or having means fortightening the band onto the bottle, a split ring relying on the springcompression of the band to secure itself to the bottle or partial ringsegments may be used with suitable hooks or the like for attachment. Theband has at least two laterally projecting legs which are substantiallystraight, oriented radially with respect to the band and positioned atan obtuse angle.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures HAND GRIPS FOR NURSING BOTTLES BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Small infants who still possess limited musclecoordination and dexterity have a great deal of difficulty in holdingtheir own nursing bottles. Their hands are small as compared to thecircumference of the bottle and it is necessary for them to use bothhands, one on each side, a skill which many infants are slow to master.To the infant the bottle is relatively heavy and he often tires ofholding it before he is through nursing. As a result, he often drops itor through involuntary muscle response knocks it out of his mouthwhereupon it falls into the crib, leaks and wets the bed.

I am not aware of any satisfactory solution heretofore made to thisproblem. The closest approach known to me appears to be that disclosedin the patent to E. S. Nichols, US. Pat. No. 2,789,002 which discloses adevice for attaching handles to a nursing bottle by means of an elasticstrap, the handles being loops oriented along the longitudinal axis ofthe bottle. That device does not solve the problems previouslyenumerated for several reasons. The orientation of the handles and theirparticular configuration are not readily grasped by the infant. Further,the location of the handles at opposing sides of the bottle does notprovide a support for the bottle by which the infant can nurse withoutusing his hands. And finally, the handles in their position do notreadily prevent the bottle from rolling about in the crib.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have solved all of the foregoing difficultiesby providing an improved means for attaching removable hand grips to anursing bottle wherein the hand grips are formed in the configuration oftwo longitudinal, downwardly projecting legs of relatively substantiallength having a diameter easily grasped by an infant. The legs projectradially outwardly from a circular band adapted to fit securely aroundthe bottle. The legs are positioned so that they project at an abtuseangle providing a bipod supporting structure. In this manner, thenursing bottle with the holder applied thereto can rest upon the infantschest without rolling about and without the necessity for the infantactually grasping the hand grips. However, the particular location ofthe hand grips and their shape make it relatively easy for an infant tograsp them either with one or both hands in that they are located in anatural plane of the babys grasp. Furthermore, the bipod effect achievedby the relatively long length of the hand grips prevents the bottle fromrolling about. In addition to the foregoing advantages, it is apparentthat the provision of the hand grips on the bottle greatly aids inencouraging the infant by using the grips to more rapidly improve hishand and eye coordination. The band to which the legs are attached maysimply provide a friction fit about the periphery of the bottle or athreaded pressure screw may be used. Altemately, the band may be splitso that it functions as a spring clip, or as another alternative, theband may be formed in segments having hooks to secure to portions of thebottle.

It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide animproved attachment for nursing bottles which affords not only one ormore hand grips for the infant but also a secure support therefore sothat the bottle cannot readily escape the infant's grasp.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent upon reading the ensuing detailed description of thevarious embodiments, together with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a firstembodiment of the present invention in which the ring employs a frictionfit.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the present invention in whichattachment to the bottle is accomplished by means of athreaded'compression screw.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment in place on atypical nursing bottle.

FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the invention using a split spring clipband.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the first embodimenthaving an added handgrip.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment in which the band isprovided with hooks.

FIG. 8 is a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 in which theband is formed in partial segments having hooks to engage portions ofthe bottle periphery.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the deviceis shown to consist of a completely circular band 10 the inner diameterof which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the typical babybottle 12. The inside surface of the band 10 is lined with a layer ofrelatively soft resilient material 14 such as foam rubber or plasticfilm thus providing a friction fit when slid onto a typical nursingbottle. The legs 16 are formed integrally with the band 10 andpreferably are aligned with the radii of the band. The legs 16 areoriented to form an obtuse angle, approxi mately apart. This angle isnot particularly critical but it is found to be preferable to maintainan obtuse angle and to have the lowermost extension of the legs 16project below the base of the band. In that manner, the legs provide abipod type of support when the device is installed on a bottle 12 sothat if resting upon a flat surface, the bottle rests upon its base endand upon the two legs. It has been found that the diameter of the legsshould be approximately five-eighths of an inch to afford a handle whichmay be easily grasped by most infants.

FIG. 6 shows one modification of the preferred embodiment in which asupplementary top grip 18 has been added which provides the infant withan additional gripping surface as an alternative to either of the legsand gives him some variety in so doing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS Since not all nursing bottlesare of the same diameter, some means must be provided for attaching theband to bottles of different diameter. FIG. 3 shows a modification inwhich the band 10 is provided on its inside surface with a partialfrictional liner 20 formed in the bottom area of the ring adjacent theleg 16. Opposite the liner 20 is a threaded screw shaft 22 having ahandle 24 and provided with a base 26 upon which is secured a resilientpad 28. The threaded shaft 22 may be readily adjusted to tighten theband onto bottles of lesser diameter than the ring 10 so that the devicecan be securely mounted on the bottle. The handle 24 then affordsanother gripping area similar to handle 18.

FIG. 5 is similar to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 except that theband is split at 30 so as to allow it to be spread apart as it is slidupon the nursing bottle whereupon it acts as a spring clip holding theband in place. Again, a layer of resilient material 14 is applied to theinside surface of the band 10. This configuration may also include theadditional top hand grip 18 if desired.

There are types of nursing bottles which employ a cylindrical sleeve inwhich are attached disposable plastic liners to contain the milk such asthe type commercially available known as the Playtex Nurser. Here, thecylindrical outer body of the nursing unit employs a plurality oflongitudinal open slots. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the band 10is split at 32 and the band is bent inwardly to provide the tabs orhooks 34. The hooks 34 engage these longitudinal slots to securelyfasten the band to this type of nursing unit. Here again, it may bedesirable to line the inner surface of the band with the layer ofresilient material 14 to gain the further advantage of a frictional fit.

As a further embodiment of the invention, FIG. 8 shows the band in aform of a partial segment 36 each of which is provided with an integralleg 38 of the same type and configuration as the legs 16. The bandsegment 36 is provided with two inwardly turned hooks 40 spacedcircumferentially a sufficient distance to engage the longitudinal slotsof the type of nursing unit previously mentioned. Typically, two unitsof the type shown in FIG. 8 would be used with each of the nursing unitspreviously mentioned although it is equally possible that more than twosuch units may be applied if desired.

By providing the various embodiments of the present invention in amanner in which they can be readily attached or removed from any typicalnursing bottle, they may be easily cleaned and transferred from onebottle to another. By molding the units in one piece from any suitableplastic material, they can be made both non-toxic and non-allergenic.The various embodiments shown herein make the present invention readilyadaptable to any size or shape of nursing bottle and although thevarious embodiments shown herein disclose a circular band it is equallycontemplated as being within the scope of this invention that the bandsmay be made of triangular or rectangular shape to accommodate anybottles of such configuration. While several embodiments of the presentinvention have been shown and described it will be obvious to personsskilled in the ,art that other changes and modifications might be madewithout departing from this invention in its broader aspects and it iscontemplated that the present invention includes all such changes andmodifications as adopt the salient features disclosed herein.

I claim: 1. Hand grips for nursing bottles or the like, comprismg:

a single pair of longitudinal gripping members having an elongatedcylindrical configuration, the diameter of said members beingsubstantially less than the length thereof, fixture means formedintegrally with said gripping members for removably affixing saidmembers to the periphery of a bottle, each of said members beingsupported at one end thereof by said fixture means, the other ends beingunsupported, said members being oriented with respect to the peripheryof a bottle to which the same are fixed such that they extend radiallyoutwardly therefrom and are arcutately separated about said periphery byan obtuse angle.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said fixture means comprisesan annular band the inner diameter of which is chosen to be somewhatgreater then the outer diameter of a nursing bottle, said band having aliner of resilient material disposed about the inner surface thereof.

3. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein said annular band is furtherprovided with a threaded aperture, a threaded screw situated in saidaperture, said screw extending radially through said band with an endthereof disposed within said band, a disk-like member affixed to theinner end of said screw, said disk member having a layer of resilientmaterial affixed to the inward surface thereof.

4. The device set forth in claim 2 further including a radiallyextending protrusion formed upon said band at a position remote from theposition of said gripping members, said protrusion having a rounded bodyportion the lateral dimension of which is substantially the same as theradial extension of said protrusion, said protrusion providing a thirdgripping member.

5. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein said band is divided toprovide a gap between adjacent ends thereof, the diameter of said bandbeing substantially equal to or slightly less than the diameter of anursing bottle to provide a spring clip fixture means, said linerextending around the inner periphery of said band except for said gap. 7

6. Hand grips for nursing bottles or the like, comprismg:

a single pair of longitudinal gripping members having an elongatedcylindrical configuration, the diameter of said members beingsubstantially less than the length thereof, fixture means formedintegrally with said gripping members for removably affixing saidmembers to the periphery of a bottle, each of said members beingsupported at one end by said fixture means, the other ends beingunsupported, said members being oriented with respect to the peripheryof a bottle to which the same are affixed such that they extend radiallyoutwardly therefrom and are arcuately separated about said periphery byan obtuse angle;

said fixture means comprising an annular band, said band being dividedto provide a gap between adjacent ends thereof, the diameter of saidband being substantially equal to or slightly less than the diameter ofa nursing bottle, the adjacent ends of said band being provided withhook means formed thereon, said band having a liner of resilientmaterial disposed about the inner surface thereof.

7. The device set forth in claim 6 wherein said band is dividedtoprovidemore then one gap whereby said band is formed in one or more segments,and hook means formed at the ends of each said segment.

1. Hand grips for nursing bottles or the like, comprising: a single pairof longitudinal gripping members having an elongated cylindricalconfiguration, the diameter of said members being substantially lessthan the length thereof, fixture means formed integrally with saidgripping members for removably affixing said members to the periphery ofa bottle, each of said members being supported at one end thereof bysaid fixture means, the other ends being unsupported, said members beingoriented with respect to the periphery of a bottle to which the same arefixed such that they extend radially outwardly therefrom and arearcutately separated about said periphery by an obtuse angle.
 2. Thedevice set forth in claim 1 wherein said fixture means comprises anannular band the inner diameter of which is chosen to be somewhatgreater then the outer diameter of a nursing bottle, said band having aliner of resilient material disposed about the inner surface thereof. 3.The device set forth in claIm 2 wherein said annular band is furtherprovided with a threaded aperture, a threaded screw situated in saidaperture, said screw extending radially through said band with an endthereof disposed within said band, a disk-like member affixed to theinner end of said screw, said disk member having a layer of resilientmaterial affixed to the inward surface thereof.
 4. The device set forthin claim 2 further including a radially extending protrusion formed uponsaid band at a position remote from the position of said grippingmembers, said protrusion having a rounded body portion the lateraldimension of which is substantially the same as the radial extension ofsaid protrusion, said protrusion providing a third gripping member. 5.The device set forth in claim 2 wherein said band is divided to providea gap between adjacent ends thereof, the diameter of said band beingsubstantially equal to or slightly less than the diameter of a nursingbottle to provide a spring clip fixture means, said liner extendingaround the inner periphery of said band except for said gap.
 6. Handgrips for nursing bottles or the like, comprising: a single pair oflongitudinal gripping members having an elongated cylindricalconfiguration, the diameter of said members being substantially lessthan the length thereof, fixture means formed integrally with saidgripping members for removably affixing said members to the periphery ofa bottle, each of said members being supported at one end by saidfixture means, the other ends being unsupported, said members beingoriented with respect to the periphery of a bottle to which the same areaffixed such that they extend radially outwardly therefrom and arearcuately separated about said periphery by an obtuse angle; saidfixture means comprising an annular band, said band being divided toprovide a gap between adjacent ends thereof, the diameter of said bandbeing substantially equal to or slightly less than the diameter of anursing bottle, the adjacent ends of said band being provided with hookmeans formed thereon, said band having a liner of resilient materialdisposed about the inner surface thereof.
 7. The device set forth inclaim 6 wherein said band is divided to provide more then one gapwhereby said band is formed in one or more segments, and hook meansformed at the ends of each said segment.